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Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today he still opposes the legalization of medical marijuana in New York, despite growing support for the measure in the state Legislature.

Cuomo has regularly voiced concern about the legalization of medical marijuana and the government’s ability to effectively regulate it.

“I do not support medical marijuana. I understand the pros and cons. I understand the argument,” the Democratic governor said. “We are looking at it, but at this point, I don’t support medical marijuana.”

Sen. Diane Savino, a member of the Independent Democratic Conference, said at a news conference that 38 senators would vote for the latest bill. The legalization of medical marijuana has passed the Democratic-led Assembly, but has failed in the Republican-controlled Senate.

The four-member IDC now shares power with Republicans in the 63-seat Senate.

Cuomo, however, said he’s not convinced the regulations could be adequately enforced. Eighteen states have legalized medical marijuana.

“I understand the benefits, the risks,” Cuomo said. “How do you construct a system that really is that tightly controlled that you don’t have dissemination beyond the directed population?”

Cuomo is supporting the decriminalization of a small amount of marijuana in New York City to help limit the stop-and-frisk policy – in which young adults, mainly black and Hispanic males, are arrested for marijuana possession.

He said two issues are different.

“Apples and oranges. It’s a stop-and-frisk issue. It’s not a marijuana issue,” he said.

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